LymeNet Flash: Tinnitus and antibiotics?

This is topic Tinnitus and antibiotics? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Bobidor (Member # 14453) on :

Lately I've been experiencing more and more tinnitus. At first, it was just when I went to bed and when the house was quiet, but now I sometimes have it when there is noise around.

I'm taking zithromax (500 mg), doxycycline (400 mg), and plaquenil (400 mg).

Is this a common side-effect of the antibiotics? If so, will it go away once I stop taking them?

Has anyone developed permanent tinnitus or ear damage because of these drugs?

Thanks in advance for your replies,

Julie

Posted by daise (Member # 13622) on :

Hi Bobidor,

It's miserable, I know.

You'll find information on this site about tinnitus. Lyme can certainly cause it and Zithro can, too. [Frown]

When in herx, it typically gets worse.

I'm sorry. [group hug]

Very loud noise may--be permanent. But that's may. OK?

Here is the link to keeblers wonderful help:

http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=064047

My journey:

http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=060660

Tinnitus is no fun. For some, like me, it took a journey to figure out my particular causes of tinnitus.

Stay with it, OK? If there are other causes contributing to your tinnitus, you'll get it figured out, with a bit of detective work.

Good treatment for Lyme cures it, to the extent that it's caused by Lyme.

daise [Smile]

Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :

Zithromax causes ringing in the ears, and it's a common side effect. It does go away once you stop taking it. [Smile]

Posted by shazdancer (Member # 1436) on :

Lyme itself can cause hearing loss, and so can Zithromax. Please check with your doctor, as permanent loss is no fun.

-- Shaz
(has mild-to-moderate loss due to Lyme)

Posted by Bobidor (Member # 14453) on :

Thanks for all your replies!

I've decided to take a 3-day break from the zithromax to see if the tinnitus fades away...

Hope it'll work [Smile]

Julie

Posted by LuLuFlorida (Member # 12066) on :

My ear ringing was directly caused by ZIthromax. At first I only noticed it when it was very quiet and when trying to sleep like you... but it got louder during treatment. Zithromax can cause permanent hearing damage so please contact your doctor.

You can take a 3 day break but Zith has a really long half life so my ear ringing didnt begin fading for a week. Itdidnt complely go away for a few months after stopping it.

Hope this helps,
Lindsay

Posted by Cass A (Member # 11134) on :

I already had tinnitus, and Zithromax didn't make it worse. Doxycycline did, however. That damage is now reverted (whew!!), but not just by stopping it.

There have been many posts about ototoxic drugs here--do a search for that.

As was posted earlier, Zith stays in the body for a long time, so three days off isn't going to be difinitive about the tinnitus issue.

Best,

Cass A